Calotheca danielssoni, D’Alessandro & Iannella & Grobbelaar & Biondi, 2021

D'Alessandro, Paola, Iannella, Mattia, Grobbelaar, Elizabeth & Biondi, Maurizio, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Calotheca parvula species group from southern Africa, with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), African Invertebrates 62 (1), pp. 315-337 : 315

publication ID	https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.62.62426
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:46904661-101D-4705-83C2-C49F2F86F708
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/6B90C1D8-01C0-4047-813A-B5B8319DF4EA
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:6B90C1D8-01C0-4047-813A-B5B8319DF4EA
treatment provided by	African Invertebrates by Pensoft
scientific name	Calotheca danielssoni
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Calotheca danielssoni sp. nov. Figs 1A-E View Figure 1 , 6 View Figure 6

Calotheca parvula (Weise): Biondi et al. 2017: 124 (pars)

Type material.

Holotype ♂: South Africa [RSA], Northern Cape, Vanrhyns[dorp] Pass [near Nieuwoudtville, 31°22'40"S, 19°01'04"E], W slope (R27), 660-760 m, fynbos, on Rhus sp., 16.ix.1994, P. Audisio, M. Biondi & M.A. Bologna leg. (SANC). Paratypes: Republic of South Africa: Cape Prov. [WCape] Koomplanskloof [sic!], 10 km S Citrusdal, 200-270 m, 32°40'S, 19°01'E, 04-08.x.1994, R. Danielsson leg., 1♂ (MZLU); C.P. [WCape], Gifberg Pass, 250-560 m, 31°45'S, 18°47'E, 17.ix.1986, R.[G.] Oberprieler leg., 1♂, 1♀ (SANC); C.P. [WCape], Clanwilliam District, Bidouw Valley, 32°08'S, 19°14'E, 7.ix.1987, C.D. Eardley leg. 1♂ (BAQ); WCape, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Bosherberge, 650 m, -32.3987, 19.0907 [32°23'55"S, 19°05'26"E], lamp & night collection, 6.xii.2012, M. Wanat leg., 1♀ (UWCP); WCape, neigh. Piekenaarskloof Pass, 475 m (wet fynbos), 32°37.050'S, 18°57.458'E [32°37'04"S, 18°57'12"E], on Rhus sp., 13.ix.2006, M. Biondi & A. De Biase leg., 1♀ (BAQ); WCape, Groenkol Farm near Graafwater, 32°06'S, 18°42'E, 450 m, 15.iv.1997, R. Oberprieler & R. Stals leg., 1♀ (SANC).

Diagnosis.

Calotheca danielssoni sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other species in the group by the elytral punctures, which are larger and more deeply impressed than those of the pronotal striae (Fig. 1A, D View Figure 1 ) (elytral punctures as large as, or smaller than, those of the pronotal striae in the other species). Males are similar to C. parvula regarding their small size and the generally darker colour, but are easily distinguishable by the basal pro- and mesotarsomere which are distinctly enlarged (only moderately enlarged in C. parvula ) (Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 4A View Figure 4 ), and the very different shape of the median lobe of the aedeagus (Figs 1B, C View Figure 1 , 4C View Figure 4 ); females are clearly larger than in C. parvula . Based on the aedeagus, C. danielssoni sp. nov. shows major similarities with C. pallida , C. oberprieleri sp. nov. and C. prinslooi sp. nov. (Figs 1B, C View Figure 1 , 2C View Figure 2 , 3C View Figure 3 , 5C View Figure 5 ), this is due to: the narrow medial sulcus in the apical third; the apex bearing small ventrolateral bulges (more prominent laterally in some specimens); the paired ventral carinae delimiting a wide ventral sulcus (present in C. pallida and C. prinslooi sp. nov.); and the dorsal ligula formed by two basal and two apical distal lobes. The aedeagus of C. danielssoni sp. nov. is, however, easily distinguishable by the apical part, which is distinctly wider than the remaining length, and the dorsal ligula, with shorter and clearly truncate basal lobes and more elongate distal lobes (Fig. 1B, C View Figure 1 ).

Description of the holotype

(♂). Body elongate-elliptical in dorsal view (cf. Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ), moderately convex in lateral view; total body length (LB) = 4.70 mm; maximum pronotal width at base (WP = 2.08 mm); and maximum elytral width in basal third (WE = 2.50 mm). Head, femora and tibiae pale brown; frons, labrum, antennae, and tarsi paler brown; pronotum yellow, punctate lateral striae and basal furrows slightly darkened; elytra yellow with wide darkened punctures, small irregular reddish patches on the last interstria, and very sparse reddish patches on the disc. Head (cf. Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ) with surface rough, and micropunctate; several deeply impressed setiferous punctures between medial ocular margin and frontal grooves, and near the dorsal section of frontal grooves; frontal grooves deeply impressed, more so anteriorly, sinuate, extending from dorsal ocular margin to interantennal space; interantennal space about 1.5 times the length of the first antennomere; eyes elongate-ovate; dorsal interocular space slightly narrower than 1.5 times the transversal width of the eye; antennae slightly shorter than half the body length (LAN = 2.08 mm; LAN/LB = 0.44; LA: 100:40:53:60:67:67:67:67:67:60:87). Pronotum (cf. Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ) barely convex, sub-trapezoidal, distinctly transverse (LP = 1.00 mm; WP/LP = 2.08), with distinctly rounded sides; surface smooth, sparsely micropunctate, with additional small, rather dense but evenly distributed punctation; lateral pronotal striae C-shaped, with large deeply impressed punctures; basal furrows of pronotum deeply impressed; basal and apical margins with distinct borders, but not raised; lateral margins only slightly expanded, but visible in dorsal view; anterior angles prominent and pointed; posterior angles slightly obtuse. Scutellum sub-triangular, rounded apically. Elytra (cf. Fig. 1A, D View Figure 1 ) moderately elongate and convex (LE = 3.50 mm; WE/LE = 0.71; LE/LP = 3.50), slightly sinuate laterally, jointly rounded apically; lateral margin narrow, barely visible in dorsal view; elytral punctation arranged in single regular rows formed by deeply impressed punctures; interstriae with finely microreticulate and micropunctate surface; last interstria carinate; humeral calli barely raised. Macropterous. Legs with basal pro- and mesotarsomeres distinctly enlarged (cf. Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ). Tarsal claws simple. Underside brown; apical abdominal ventrite without preapical sculpture or impressions. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 1C View Figure 1 ) (LAED = 1.83 mm; LE/LAED = 1.92) with apical third distinctly wider than base in ventral view; apex subtriangular, widely obtuse, protruding laterally, with a rounded median tooth; ventral surface with two parallel carinae delimiting a rather wide sulcus which becomes shallower distally, and a narrow distal sulcus in the apical third; ventrolateral surface wrinkled medially; dorsal ligula short, formed by two basal lobes which are sub-rectangular and truncate apically, and two apical lobes which are subtriangular becoming wider distally; in lateral view, median lobe distinctly bent down to the apex.

Variability.

Males (n = 4; mean ± standard deviation, range): LE = 3.45 ± 0.27 mm (3.05 ≤ LE ≤ 3.65 mm); WE = 2.44 ± 0.13 mm (2.25 ≤ WE ≤ 2.55 mm); LP = 1.04 ± 0.05 mm (1.00 ≤ LP ≤ 1.10 mm); WP = 2.03 ± 0.11 mm (1.88 ≤ WP ≤ 2.13 mm); LAN = 2.18 ± 0.18 mm (2.00 ≤ LAN ≤ 2.40 mm); LAED = 1.82 ± 0.12 mm (1.75 ≤ LAED ≤ 1.85 mm); LB = 4.60 ± 0.38 mm (4.05 ≤ LB ≤ 4.90 mm); LE/LP = 3.32 ± 0.21 (3.05 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.50); WE/WP = 1.20 ± 0.01 (1.19 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.20); WP/LP = 1.96 ± 0.08 (1.88 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 2.08); WE/LE = 0.71 ± 0.03 (0.67 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.74); LAN/LB = 0.47 ± 0.02 (0.44 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.49); LE/LAED = 1.89 ± 0.10 (1.74 ≤ LE/LAED ≤ 1.97). Females (n = 4; mean ± standard deviation; range): LE = 4.48 ± 0.29 mm (4.25 ≤ LE ≤ 4.90 mm); WE = 3.21 ± 0.20 mm (3.05 ≤ WE ≤ 3.45 mm); LP = 1.19 ± 0.03 mm (1.15 ≤ LP ≤ 1.20 mm); WP = 2.52 ± 0.12 mm (2.43 ≤ WP ≤ 2.70 mm); LAN = 2.34 ± 0.09 mm (2.25 ≤ LAN ≤ 2.43 mm); LSP = 0.74 ± 0.01 mm (0.73 ≤ LSP ≤ 0.75 mm); LB = 5.86 ± 0.26 mm (5.60 ≤ LB ≤ 6.20 mm); LE/LP = 3.77 ± 0.21 (3.63 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 4.08); WE/WP = 1.28 ± 0.06 (1.22 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.36); WP/LP = 2.12 ± 0.09 (2.04 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 2.25); WE/LE = 0.72 ± 0.04 (0.69 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.78); LAN/LB = 0.39 ± 0.01 (0.38 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.41); LE/LSP = 6.02 ± 0.35 (5.80 ≤ LE/LSP ≤ 6.53). Paratypes similar in shape, sculpture and colour to the holotype, but the darkened elytral patches are slightly variable. In one specimen the median lobe of aedeagus with apical third less expanded, the apex bearing small ventrolateral bulges rather than protruding laterally (Fig. 1B View Figure 1 ). Female with basal pro- and mesotarsomeres less enlarged than in male. Spermatheca (Fig. 1E View Figure 1 ) subcylindrical and generally straight basally, moderately slender to thickset; distal part clearly curved, slightly narrower apically, with a very short appendix; distal part shorter than half the length of the basal part; ductus basally inserted, moderately elongate, with either a narrow coil or a hint of a coil.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case after Roy Danielsson (Sweden, Lund), one of its collectors.

Distribution.

Republic of South Africa (NCape, WCape) (Fig. 6 View Figure 6 ). Chorotype: Southern-Western Afrotropical (SWA).

Ecological notes.

Collected in fynbos and wet fynbos vegetation, between 200-760 m a.s.l., on Searsia sp. [= Rhus pars, cf. Moffett (2007)] ( Anacardiaceae ). Adults active in April, September, October, December.